Sam Burgess is poised to be named among England's replacements on Monday for the World Cup opener against Fiji, just as Bath are fending off speculation linking him with an imminent return to rugby league.

Reports in Australia have strongly claimed that the 26-year-old will head back to Sydney to re-join the Rabbitohs – the team part-owned by actor Russell Crowe, who he inspired to the NRL title last year – at the end of this season.

Yet, Burgess is determined to succeed in union and has recently bought a house in Bath with his fiancee, Phoebe Hook.

Sam Burgess (pictured) is determined to succeed in union and has recently bought a house in Bath

The centre (left) only started playing union for Bath last year having made his name in rugby league

The West Country club paid a transfer fee to bring the former Bradford Bulls player to The Rec and they have no intention of allowing him to leave.

His current contract runs until June 2017 and Bath are keen to keep hold of their powerful cross-code recruit until then and beyond, if possible.

'Sam is very happy staying in rugby union,' said Bath's head coach, Mike Ford.

'He is loving his England spell at the moment and he is looking forward to coming back after the World Cup, playing for us and progressing his union career.

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'I will be hoping that he is at Bath for a very long time, even going into the next World Cup (in 2019).

'We are very happy with Sam, and Sam is very happy with Bath.

'We want him to stay and I think he wants to stay for the long term, through to the next World Cup for example.

'He won't be going anywhere in the mean-time.'

It is understood that Bath have not received any official approach from the Rabbitohs, or anyone acting on their behalf.

Burgess met cadets at Sandhurst Millitary College for their official welcoming ceremony on Saturday

Burgess has already brushed off previous speculation about a swift return to the NRL, telling Sportsmail: 'Anyone who knows my personality knows that there's no way I would go back until I have given it a very good crack in union.'

This evening, he is destined to be included among the bench reserves as England head coach Stuart Lancaster names his line-up to face Fiji in the World Cup curtain-raiser at Twickenham.

The coaching staff are expected to name an unchanged starting XV following their warm-up victory over Ireland on September 5 – meaning Ben Morgan is retained ahead of Billy Vunipola at No 8, Geoff Parling will continue at lock and Tom Wood has edged out James Haskell at blindside flanker.

The only anticipated change is Rob Webber's recall as the back-up hooker, in place of Jamie George.

Burgess (centre) has already brushed off previous speculation about a swift return to the NRL

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Sam Burgess poised to be named among England replacements for Fiji World Cup opener amid rugby league return rumours